Kurt Eggers

This chapter offers a comprehensive framework to aid medical professionals in the identification and evaluation of speech disfluencies, particularly stuttering, across all age groups. It emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between typical and atypical disfluencies, especially in young children, where early and accurate diagnosis is critical. The chapter reviews standardized assessment tools and screening procedures to support objective evaluation. Both overt symptoms (e.g., frequency, type, and secondary behaviours) and covert aspects, such as emotional and cognitive responses, are examined using different questionnaires and client interviews. Special attention is given to the diagnostic challenges in differentiating early stuttering from typical developmental disfluency. The chapter underscores the necessity of timely referral to stutter specialists and highlights the role of caregivers, teachers, and physicians in supporting accurate diagnosis and effective intervention planning.